Wu Wei (Effortless Action) Poem by Basim Alansari

Inspired by The Tao Te Ching:
• 'Because she does not compete, no one can compete with her.' (Chapter 22)
• "He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who brags is not distinguished. He who boasts is not meritorious.' (Chapter 24)
• "The softest things in the world overcome the hardest.' (Chapter 43)

The giant oak will snap and crack,
While bending reeds suffer no lack.
The one who stands on tiptoe falls,
Deaf to the Tao's eternal calls.
…
The striding man cannot sustain,
The boaster reaps no lasting gain.
Real power blooms in quiet space,
Unmoved by praise or outer grace.
…
True master seeks no grand applause,
But flows unseen with nature's laws.
One does not strive, nor needs to vie,
Yet stands unmatched beneath the sky.
…
Deepest wisdom is never sought;
By letting go, the strength is caught.
The softest wave breaks hardest stone,
In effortless action, atone.
……